Can Postprandial Glucose and Carb Intake Increase Lung Cancer Risk?

More pronounced link for never smokers, squamous cell carcinoma, those with <12 years education

HealthDay News — Dietary glycemic index (GI) is associated with lung cancer risk, according to a study published in the March issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Stephanie C. Melkonian, Ph.D., from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, and colleagues assessed glycemic load (GL) and GI among 1,905 newly diagnosed lung cancer cases and 2,413 healthy controls. The correlations between quintiles of GI/GL and lung cancer risk were assessed.

The researchers observed a significant correlation between GI and lung cancer risk (fifth versus first quintile, odds ratio, 1.49; Ptrend < 0.001). There was also a significant correlation between total GI using total available carbohydrate and lung cancer risk (fifth versus first quintile, odds ratio, 1.48; Ptrend = 0.001). The correlations for GI and lung cancer risk were more pronounced among never smokers (odds ratio, 2.25), for squamous cell carcinoma (odds ratio, 1.92), and for those with less than 12 years of education (odds ratio, 1.75).

"Understanding the role of GI in lung cancer could inform prevention strategies and elucidate biologic pathways related to lung cancer risk," the authors write.